Fire-escape.



'- PATEN-TBD'AUG. 1s, 1490s.

M. PIKE. IPIEL ESCAPE. APPLIoATIoN rILnDvrnB. 15, 190e.

101896,241. 4P MENTED AUG.18,1908. y

' EIEE ESCAPE. APPLICATION PILEDFEB. 15, 190B.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MORRIS PIKE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

Application filed February 15, 1908.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1908.

Serial No. 416,099.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, MORRIS PrKE,-a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and VState of Pennsylvania, have invented cerbrakes, the object being to provide a device proved fire escape.

which can be readily placed on a rope, whereby a person can descend at a moderate rate of speed without any danger of being injure Another object of my invention is to provide a means whereby the brake used on this class of devices may be set to regulate the speed of descent, whereby it cannot be freed from its engagement with the rope eX- cept with intention.

Another object of my invention is to provide a very novel device which can be easily and quickly placed on a ro'pe, or taken off, and one when placed thereon will be held in position to be used.

Another object of my invention is to provide a body harness in connection with the device, whereby a person can be su ported in the same without any danger o falling out.

These objects are obtained by the novel arrangement and construction of parts hereinafter fully described and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l, is a perspective view of my im- Fig. 2, is a vertical section. Fig. 3, is a vertical section taken at right angles to that of Fig. 2. Fig. y1i, is a section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3, and, Fig. 5, is a perspective view of the brake detached.

In the drawings A, indicates a rope, rovided with a hook B, adapted to be hoo ed over the window frame, so as to securely support the rope on the outside of the building, it of course, being understood, that the rope is long enough to reach the ground, and C, my improved device.

The device comprises a body formed of an end piece D, spaced sides D', which are recessed as shown at D2, this recess having squared ends and an end piece E hinged to one of the sides and having the projecting bracket portions E', E', which are adapted to fit in and be supported by the squared recesses D2 when the end piece is closed. These brackets E', are adapted to support one of the rollers hereinafter referred to. The end piece E is connected to one of the sides D', by hinges E2, said end piece being securely locked by a pivot latch F, which fits over the catch F', and is hooked in a closed position by a spring G.

Extending through the sides D', above and below the recesses D2, are bolts II and I, provided with anti-friction rollers H' and I', and extending through the bracket projections E', is a similar bolt J, provided with anantifriction roller J', the bolts being so arranged in respect to each other, that when the ends are locked together, the roller J', will be out of alinement with the rollers H' and I.

The above construction provides means whereby the rope may be easily inserted withinthe boX or casing, or easilyremoved therefrom if it is necessary to repair any of the internal mechanism, or to adjust any of the parts. At the same time provision is made for an ample support to the roller J, J', which would not be the case were this roller not mounted in brackets E', projecting inward and fitting in the recesses formed in the side pieces. These side pieces however support the bracket and the roller J, J' is supported as rigidly and strongly as if it were mounted in the side pieces themselves as are the rollers I' and H'.

It will be seen that by opening the hinged side or door E that the rope is immediately removed or immediately inserted. It is not always convenient to have a retarding device mounted permanently upon the rope, and under these circumstances it is absolutely necessary that the retarder should be capable of being placed upon the rope in an obvious manner and as simply as possible. This applicant has achieved by making his retarder in two sections.

Secured to the end E, adjacent its upper and lower ends, are guides K, and when placed on the rope, the rope is inserted between the sides D' over the rollers I-I and I', and by closing the sides E' in, the roller J', will force the rope inwardly, so that the rope will pass through the body in a Zig zag manner, so as to prevent the body from traveling too fast when descending.

Secured to the sides D and E, are handles L, by means of which a person can support himself when descending, and connected to these handles are snap hooks M, carried by the bodyharnesisI N, whereby a person can be readily strapped in the same. This harness consists of the downwardly extending lateral straps joined at the bottom or formed in one piece and carrying at the upper ends snap hooks M whereby the harness may be connected to the handles L. A waist belt is also' provided. The end piece D, is slottedas Ishown at D3, and in this slot is pivotally mounted ay bell-crank brake lever O, which is provided with an enlarged head O', forming a shoe,- adapted to engage the rope as it passes between the rollers, and by means of which the speed of the person descending can be regulated. f

The lever O, is provided with a rack O2,

adapted to be engaged by a downwardly and' inwardly curved pawl P, pivotally mounted in bearings P and provided with a stop P2, for limiting the upward movement, and a lip P3, whereby it can be readily thrown out of engagement with the rack, and it will be seen that when a person is descending too fast, it is only necessary to throw the lever outwardly to apply the brake, and the pawl will engage the rack portion and lock it in its adjusted position, and if not descending fast enough, by releasing the pawl and forcing the brake lever inwardly, the shoe will be thrown out of engagement with the rope, so as to descend faster.

It will be seen that the pawl holds the brake from any extended movement which would tend to release the rope. It will be seen that the brake may be jammed against thel rope and that the pawl will latch the rope at each inward movement, and that it will act to prevent any movement of the brake away from the rope unless the pawl is thrown up by the finger P3.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a fire escape which is so constructed that it can be used in con nection with any rope, and one which can be easily and quickly applied or taken off.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a fire escape, the combination with a rope, of a body formed of two sections hinged together, adapted to be secured together over said rope, rollers secured alternately to one section or the other, lsaid rollers being out of alinement with each other and adapted to engage a rope between them, and a brake pivoted to one section adapted to engage said rope.

2. In a fire escape, the combination with a rope, of a body' formed of two sections hinged together, rollers carried by each of said sections, adapted to be clamped to'- ether on opposite sides of said rope, means or locking said sections together a brake mounted upon said body and adapted to enga e with the rope and force it against said rol ers and supporting means carried by said body.

3. In a iire escape, the combination with a.

rope, of a body comprising two sections hav,- ing a relatively ixed end provided with two sides, said sides being recessed, a hinged bar closing the open side of the fixed body section and having brackets adapted to enter the recesses of the side and be sup orted, thereby, rollers carried by said bo y and upon the portion a apted to engage the rope between them, means for locking said hinged portion to the fixed portion, handles secured to said body and a body harness connected to said handles.

rojecting bracketsoi1 the hingedv 4. In a rire escape, the'ccmbination with a rope provided with supporting means, of a body formed of two sections hinged together, one section being provided with rollers adj acent each end, andthe other with a central roller adapted to engage said rope when said sections are locked together, a' brake lever carried by one section provided with a shoe, adapted to engage said rope, means for locking said lever andsupporting means carried by said body. f

5. In a lire escape, the combination with a rope, provided with supporting means, of a body arranged on said rope comprising end pieces, side pieces carried by one end piece to which the other end is hinged, said side pieces being provided with central recesses,

olts extending through said side pieces above andbelow the said recesses carrying anti-friction rollers, bracket projections car-l ried by the otherwend piece adapted to fit in said recesses, a bolt extending through said bracket projections carrying an anti-friction MORRIS PIKE.

Witnesses:

R. H. KREUKEL, REA P. WRIGHT. 

